The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-11-19
Flesh Turned Into Stone.
Rapid City Corr. Milwaukee Courier

Rapid City Corr. Milwaukee Courier.
 Dakota is truly a marvellous and wonderful country. Not only won derful in mineral and agricultural re- sources, but it abounds in geological formations that afford constant sur: prise and study for the student in this most interesting science. The Bad Lands, located seventy miles southeast of this point, have no equal on this continent as receptacle for petrifactions of amphibious animals. The peculiarity of the soil transforms flesh into stone, but this power is not only confined to the soil of the Bad Lands, but exists in many localities in the Black Hills. A case has just come to the knowledge of your correspond ent that has never been made public, and proves that many bodies buried in the Hills have turned to stone. The case at hand is that of little son of MT. Eugene Holcomb, a prominent citizen of Rapid City. Some years ago the boy died and was buried in spot not set aside for general burying purposes. When the city grew and cemetery was selected MT. Holcomb had large monument erected, and the departed disinterred. The family ex- pected when the shovel of the grave digger reached the casket it would need replacing, and had made prepara- tions to that end. The coffin was reached, and as the man endeavored to place rope underneath to hoist it to the surprise, he was surprised at its great weight. Thinking it was the narrow contracted hole that reduced his strength, he made several more ef- forts, but only moved it few inches, and was compelled to call for aid. Two men succeeded ill placing the rope about the casket, and with hard pull it was brought to the surface. An examination followed, and upon the deceased being revealed it was found that the body had turned, not as Scripture says: "Dust thou art to dust returnest," but into solid rock. From gentleman who was present and whose word can be relied upon, it was learned that the parents easily recognized the child. The body had assumed dark brown color, the fea- lures slightly shrunken, and he com pared it with the appearance of a mummy. The eyebrows and hair were of a lighter hue, while the hands looked perfect. It was the most sim gular sight he had ever witnessed, and only the sensitive feelings of the par ents kept the matter from the newspa- per columns. The body was again inferred, and now rests peacefully in the family lot for aught we know
 The strange transformation of this body is not the only instance recorded. The small number of dead removed has not afforded an opportunity to learn how common an occurrence this may be, but learned gentlemen tell me that when Gabriel blows his bugle, or the disinterring of bodies becomes neces- sary ill the Black Hills country, many bodies will be found turned to stone. The other instance related is that of Wild Bill, murdered in Deadwood by Jack Call ten years ago. Bill was buried on the mountainAs side, and the building of residences compelled the unearthing of his bones. What was the surprise of his friends when they discovered that the frontiersman was solid stone-petrified. This revelation may appear strange to east ern readers, but here it is an open se- cret.